Finding Safety
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.” Genesis 14:22-24, 15:1
What makes one truly feel safe? I vividly recall the day my world was shaken by a break-in at my home. The moment I received the news; a rush of anxiety flooded my mind. Racing home from work, my thoughts were consumed by fear: What if everything was destroyed? How much would we have to replace? Was my neighborhood truly safe? Upon arriving, I discovered minimal damage and only a few items missing. Yet, the shadow of that event lingered, haunting me until I finally moved away. Even after installing a security system that never once alerted me, the unease remained. In those moments, I realized how much I relied on my own strength rather than placing my trust in God for protection.
Our faith is always of sound foundation by finding solace in trusting God, even amidst life's most daunting situations. In our journey of faith, we all encounter moments when fear and uncertainty creep in, challenging our sense of safety. Abraham, an ideal model of unwavering faith, exemplifies this trust. When God called him to follow, he did so without hesitation, embracing the unknown with confidence in God's guidance.
In today’s verses, Abraham refused the riches offered by the king of Sodom, not because of worldly wisdom, but because he trusted God's command. In response, God assured Abraham, saying, "I am your shield." This divine promise of protection is not exclusive to Abraham; it is a promise extended to all who trust in Him.
Imagine living with the certainty that God's shield surrounds you, just as it did with Abraham. The beauty of faith is that we don't have to imagine it. God's protection is a constant, unwavering presence in our lives. When fear threatens to overshadow our faith, we are reminded to place our trust in God, who is our eternal shield, guiding and guarding us through every trial. Embrace this truth, and let it empower you to rise above your fears, knowing that God's steadfast protection is always with you.
It is truly awe-inspiring to have God as our protector. Just like the air we breathe, He is ever-present and sustains us. Abraham understood this deeply. He was willing to sacrifice his son, his firstborn after his 100th birthday, to fulfill God's will. This demonstrated his unwavering trust in God, and in return, God bestowed incredible favor upon him. We, too, have been given this same favor through Jesus Christ. All we need to do is place our trust in God, letting go of our fears. What areas of your life is where fear holds you back? How can you invite God's safety into those spaces. My prayer is that we all learn to let go of our fears and embrace the safety and peace that only the one true living God can provide. Amen.